It has been over four decades since the Rubik’s Cube was originally invented by Hungarian architect Erno Rubik in 1974. Since then, the puzzle has had multiple surges of popularity. Last year, Charlotte’s own Discovery Place played host to the world’s first museum exhibition about the toy.

At Hope Academy (Hope) in Concord, 10 year-old 4th grader Noah Diamond has also been bitten by the Rubik bug. Noah received a Rubik’s Cube as a gift two years ago but didn’t find interest in it until a snow day in January. A visit to YouTube showed him solutions to solving the puzzle, and he was hooked. “I think it’s interesting that [the Rubik’s Cube] actually can be solved. Most people think it can’t be solved. It’s actually pretty easy once you get the hang of it!” says Diamond.

Diamond’s interest in the Cube came a few months before Hope’s spring after-school clubs were launching, and he thought it would be a fun idea to have a club focused on the puzzle. “I told my Mom that I thought a Rubik’s Cube club would be really popular because kids were bringing Rubik’s Cubes to school,” explains Diamond.

Fast forward to April and you’d find Diamond and his school mates in the school’s Rubik’s Cube club. The group started meeting every Tuesday at 2:45 pm, beginning in February. Since this was the first student-lead club the school had hosted, Noah wrote a letter to school administrator Heather Henry to ask permission to start the group.

“Noah has a servant’s heart, always willing to help around the school when he is asked,” says Henry. “I knew that based on his personality and strong parent support, he would have the ability to follow through with whatever he set his mind to.”

The Rubik’s Cube has moved past just afternoon fun for Diamond. “[It] is my hobby! I’ve competed in one Rubik’s Cube competition [through The World Cube Association], and I’m getting ready for my second competition this month. I can solve the 3×3, 2×2, 4×4, Skewb, Pyraminx, and Magic Clock. I’m working on solving a few more!” he says.

Club members at Hope paid $100 to participate in the eight-week group that watched “You Can Do the Cube” videos to learn the technique to solve the puzzle and then grow faster at the skill.

With the proceeds from the club fees, Noah recently donated 150 Rubik’s Cubes and 100 Solution Guides to the Levine Children’s Hospital.

“I got the idea to donate to the Levine Children’s Hospital because my brother Isaac donated coloring books and coloring pencils to the hospital. When we were there, I heard that the teens there needed more things to do,” says Diamond.

Carrie Keuten, an Events Coordinator at Levine’s Children’s Hospital and the Diamond families contact for donating the Rubik’s Cubes, said teenaged patients get excited when they have prizes that are more appealing to their age group. “That really stuck with the boys, which lead to Noah’s idea of donating Rubik’s Cubes,” said Laura Diamond, Noah’s mom.

Admissions

At least one prospective parent is required (but both parents are strongly encouraged) to attend an open house prior to applying for admission. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, so we advise all prospective families to visit in the fall to increase the chances of obtaining a spot for the following year.

Here are the Open Houses scheduled during the 2018-2019 school year for Fall, 2019 admission: